Safe

disheveled

After the week I just had, I'm glad it's the weekend. This Saturday I'm planning on getting caught up on all my homework. I think I'll go over to Rubys, we could take a walk. Sunday is my day. I don't want to do anything that requires too much effort. I am exhausted. I think I might plan a movie date. Buy some pizza, sodas, candy, and chips. Pick up a few movies and decorate the dining room to match the theme of the movies. Maybe I'll go with action movies, or maybe Pixar. 

The doorbell rang and pulled me out of my thoughts.

"I'll get it!" My dad yelled from his downstairs office. 

I heard the door open and muffled talking. I went downstairs to search for some snacks and check checkout who's at the door.

"Sky! Come down here please!"

"Dad. I'm right here." I said from the kitchen that's place right next to the front hall.

I walked to him with a fruit roll up in my hand. As I approached him I saw the person at the door.

"Ruby?" She looked like she'd been crying and her clothes and hair we're very disheveled. "Are you okay?"

"I... I, um."

"That's okay. Come in." I couldn't stand there while she almost broke down. My dad opened the door wider and she stumbled in. As soon as she was in my arms wrapped in my warm hug she began to sob.

"Come on, your going to get mascara and snot on my brand new sweater." I joked, trying to lighten the mood. The whole while my dad stood there, with the door open.

"Dad, can you get Ruby some water?" I tried to prompt his departure. 

"Sure sweetie." He still looked dumbfounded as he left the room.

"Come on. Let's go upstairs." I lead Ruby up the stairs to the bathroom. She washed her face and sat on the tile floor next to me. I can hear my dads foot steps up the stair and go to meet him outside the bathroom.

"Who is this? She knocked, asked for you and couldn't even say anything else."

"Dad. I'll explain as much as she comfortable with you knowing later. I'm sorry, I didn't know she was coming over but she clearly needs someone right now."

"I know, sweetie." My dad kissed me on the forehead "You're a good friend, Sky." He walked back to the kitchen after handing me the glass of water he brought for Ruby. I walked back into the bathroom, handed Ruby the glass of water and sat back down.

"Where do you want to start?"

"I'm not sure. It's all sorta blurring." 

"That's okay. Just tell me what ever you're okay with. I'll listen to everything. Promise."

Ruby inhaled deeply, wiped the tears from her cheek, and began.

"The past few days have been rough. I parents don't talk to me, my little brother's too little to know what's going on, and they don't even listen to me. I've been getting texts from all my old friends about how I'm fake and lying for attention and how if I'm being honest, that I'm disgusting. They seem to think this is all a joke. Jane said that its okay that I'm lying to everyone, that she lies about her beach house too. She doesn't understand that I'm not doing this for show.

"I tried to talk to my parents today and they told me to shut up. I couldn't, I wouldn't. I tried to tell them that this is who I feel I am, inside. That I like girls, I think. That pink is not my color. But I'm still their daughter. Still Ruby. They didn't listen. They wouldn't have it. It's like they couldn't see what they were doing. 

"My mom got in my face, saying that women have long hair and wear skirts and men wear pants and like sports and girls. I tried to leave but my dad was at the door and he..." She gasped for air. "He grabbed me. He grabbed my arm and pushed me. He grabbed my hair and spat in my face," She was trying to finish her sentence with out crying, "he told me I'm not Ruby. That I.. I..."

"That's okay. You don't have to say any more than that." I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back as she gently sobbed into my chest.